05/26/20 THREE RESPONSES TO DANGER

05/26/20 THREE RESPONSES TO DANGER

It's one thing to be *cast into the lion's den; another to
*taunt the beast; another to
*hide under your bed.
BE BIBLICAL.
EXPLANATION

CAST INTO...
Daniel was cast into the lions den because he chose to follow, obey, worship God. It was the enemy's way of persecuting, attacking, penalizing, destroying Daniel.

Those who choose to live godly will be persecuted. God may or may not deliver us from our earthly tormentors, but He never abandons us.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 KJV (see designated verse *)
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
*12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

As witnesses for Christ in this world we stand in jeopardy every moment.

1 Corinthians 15:30-34 KJV (see designated verse *)
*30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily (dlg note... I face death daily).
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

The word "witness" in the Bible comes from the Greek word "martoos," which is the root for our word "martyr." When a person chooses to witness for Christ, he chooses to put his life on the line for Jesus.

Our weapons are spiritual and our hope is in the Lord. We trust in Him rather than in the arm of flesh. We stand firm in time of trial.
Faith does not veer from the enemy.

TAUNT THE BEAST (enemy)...
The Scripture warns us not to be bold in our own confidence and not to presume on God, as demonstrated by Paul and Michael the Archangel. Even Jesus showed us that we should depend on God's word when confronting the enemy.

We should be bold as a lion when faced with danger, but we should not trust in the flesh or carnal weapons. We should stand firm while confronting the devil, but we should not go picking a fight with him. Our response to danger is trust in Christ, not in self.
Faith does not jeer at the enemy.

HIDE...
We are going to be tested and tried in this world. The dangers we face (natural, human or spiritual) are real and many.

We should not pick a fight with the devil, but we should not cower away from being tested, tried, attacked or even suffering. It is possible to lose your soul by trying to protect your life. There will always be hard times in life. The answer is not found by hiding and avoiding life.
Faith does not fear the enemy.